Heather didi and Andrei dada came to visit us in June. Now it is mid August. They came at a time of major crisis. I have far less pictures than usual. We had far less time together than we had anticipated. This is a post that has been waiting to be blogged, and now I have a chance to reflect back on the visit, re-enjoy the pictures, and write. Heather is my older daughter, and Andrei her husband. We are a very small family, Heather, her husband, and my younger daughter Cici. The four of us are close. The three of them are close. I miss them.
Heather and Andrei first came to Kolkata in August 2007 to visit me. Heather explained that she was ONLY coming to see me as she didn't really expect to enjoy any other part of the trip. However, I know my daughter well, and I know her warmth and big heart, and comfort with children. She has always loved being with children, and she has always been amazingly funny, energetic, and reassuring with them. She was/is always a great big sister. As for Andrei, I knew he would have a great time here. So these are some pictures from their first visit, in August 2007:
At Home
At School
At Pizza Hut
And then the next year, Summer 2008, they brought Cici didi too! Here we are in a rare photo of us all. (That's me in the sari.)
So this year was their third trip and by now we had all sorts of "family rituals" with the girls. We went to Aquatica again.
An exhausting day for all
This year we went to MacDonald's instead of Pizza Hut
But the best is always hanging out at Shishur Sevay, time of just being together.
This year Andrei and Heather celebrated 11 years of marriage — flowers, superb chocolate cake, and an evening out in Kolkata. Two places were closed, and the other was about to have a private party, but we had fun.
Eleven years and as much in love with each other as the day they married. I am also a very fortunate mother-in-law, which holds a lot of sway in India! It is one thing to have my daughters visit, but quite another, and admirable, to have my son-in-law come. In the last two days we have decided that he will come and help me with some matters here. We are a small family, my two daughters and son-in-law, and we have our conflicts, but we are family. Cici calls us a "Funny Family" on Facebook. Heather used to be the older of two, and now I have twelve more children. Cici used to be the baby of the family and now she is second of the 14. These are not easy adjustments. In fact, having a mother go off to another continent to become mother to 12 orphans may be admirable, but not easy for those who are far away. My children are very proud of me, but they wish I were closer, and they wish most of all that I was not faced with crisis after crisis in trying to care for the children here.
Here are my kids in Vancouver last year. They will be going again soon. I wish I could go with them one year. I wish things would settle down here and be easier. I love my life here, but I miss my kids in America and wish I could be more a part of their lives too. I am under siege here and it wears on me.
My kids in Vancouver last year
I miss them.
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